PARIS, Jan 3 (Reuters) - France asked Niger's government on Thursday to be lenient towards two French journalists who could face the death penalty if found guilty of colluding with rebel groups.
Thomas Dandois and Pierre Creisson are accused of violating the terms of their media accreditation to film a report about bird flu in the southern city of Maradi, instead travelling to film rebel fighters in the country's Saharan north.
The impoverished African state has banned foreign reporters from that part of the country, where rebels led by nomadic Tuareg tribesmen have killed at least 49 government security personnel since they launched their uprising in February.
"We call on the clemency of the Nigerian government to release these two journalists who were exercising their mission to inform," French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani told a regular online question-and-answer session.
Niger's Communications Minister Mohamed Ben Omar said last month the pair would have to answer for their actions in court.
The two journalists, who were employed by production group Camicas Productions and were in Niger compiling a report for European TV station ARTE, were arrested last month.
Their lawyer said on Dec. 22 they had been charged with colluding with armed groups and they could face the death penalty if found guilty.
The rebellion has increased tensions between Paris and Niamey, which earlier this year accused French state-controlled uranium miner and nuclear reactor maker Areva of paying army deserters who joined the rebellion.
The journalists' production company has acknowledged that the pair broke the rules of their accreditation and went to the north of the country but said they had no political motives.
The pair's arrest came less than two months after that of six French humanitarian activists in neighbouring Chad, who were sentenced to eight years hard labour for trying to kidnap 103 children. They were flown to France to serve their sentences. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; editing by Elizabeth Piper)
